WWF has released a report that shows that renewable sources can cover 60% or more of the UK's electricity demand by 2030.

The report, "Positive Energy: how renewable electricity can transform the UK by 2030," paints a portrait of British energy policy at a crossroad. By using 60% or more of renewable energy, U.K can decarbonize its power sector without resorting to new nuclear power, according to the report.

Significant investment in new electricity generation capacity

"We will also be able to maintain system security – that is, provide enough electricity at all times to make sure there's never a risk of the 'lights going out'", the report noted.

Around a quarter of the UK's ageing power generation capacity is due to close over the coming decade. To ensure system security, a significant investment is needed in new electricity generation capacity. The government must also rise to the challenge of climate change, making sure the power sector plays its full part in meeting the requirements of the Climate Change Act, according to the report.

"The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has made it clear that UK power generation must be essentially carbon-free by 2030. The government needs solid, ambitious commitments and targets to drive investment in sustainable low carbon power generation and avoid locking the UK into a new generation of high emission unabated fossil fuel plants," the report empahsizes.

WWF says that UK must decarbonize its power sector in an environmentally sustainable way. And it should avoid new nuclear due to the unacceptable risk of a catastrophic accident and the legacy of dangerous radioactive waste for which there's no effective long-term storage solution.

The report is available for download at http://assets.wwf.org.uk/downloads/positive_energy_final_designed.pdf

2011-10-31| Courtesy: WWF | solarserver.com © Heindl Server GmbH

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